Twitter has changed a lot in recent years, most notably more recently with a subscription service, Spaces, and the ability to remove subscribers. Some might say that the social media platform is virtually unrecognizable from the platform they first joined in 2006.
In fact, I might say that, but now Twitter is, according to Tech Blogger and code sleuth Jane Manchin Wong, a new feature that takes me back to my first Tweet on March 19, 2007.
Going by the name of “Vibe”, the “Set Status” feature would allow you to show followers what you are up to right now.
Twitter is working on "Set Status" in Tweet Composer, codenamed "Vibe." You can think of it as similar to Instagram Threads App Status pic.twitter.com/TGXH4uVe8ZA Apr 22, 2022
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On the captured function screen, there is a "What are you doing?" message with a drop-down list of options such as "Driving on the highway," "Run errands," and "Hidden Twitter."
It can appear with your profile, maybe even on top of your tweets. Wong likens it to what Instagram Threads does with "Status."
However, I see it differently.
When Twitter was launched in 2006, the idea was that followers (usually colleagues, colleagues, friends) know what you were doing at any given time.
The slogan of the service at that time was quite clear: "A global community of friends and strangers that answers a simple question: what do you do?"
The last sentence appears in bright yellow as if Twitter has run a highlighter over it.
It is right. The wording is exactly the same.
Fifteen years ago, I had no idea how to use Twitter, so I followed the platform's instructions and simply listed what I was doing: "Listen to TWiT. Eat a bagel. Drink my coffee. Write this note."
Listen TWIT. Eat a muffin. Drink my coffee. Writing this note March 19, 2007
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It was certainly a terrible post, but it did answer the question, "What are you doing?"
The Twitter of 2022 is, of course, a very different beast. He asks "What's going on?" It's a place to post his thoughts, explore ideas, discuss, and share a wide range of information, photos, videos, and audio. It is a media platform.
Twitter, perhaps sensing that it has moved oceans away from its original intent, thinks that a mere hint of the past, of its roots, could make Twitter more engaging, fun, and less serious.
Instead of an angry tweet about the latest political debate or a pitched battle between Android and iOS, it could be an old-fashioned status update, indicating that the Twitter user is driving, walking, or eating a bagel.
I have no idea if Twitter is fully considering implementing "Set Status" (I asked Twitter directly and am waiting for an answer), but I think they could use this nostalgic feature, especially as it faces the prospect of a new owner. (Hello Elon Musk!) and perhaps some significant changes that could once again change the face of the venerable platform.